American Held In North Korea Attempts Suicide

North Korea says an American man being held for illegally crossing its border has tried to kill himself.

A statement issued by the regime’s official Korean Central News Agency says Aijalon Mahli Gomes’ suicide attempt was “driven by his strong guilty conscience,” plus disappointment and despair that the U.S. government “has not taken any measure for his freedom.”

The statement said the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang is aware of Gomes’ condition, but it did not give any details of the incident.